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Question

How do you know that God has made you perfect and the way He wants you to be?

Answer

Thank you for your question. It seems from your question that there is some personal issue that is making you feel that you aren't the way that God created you to be. Often as human beings we feel ashamed of how we look. Perhaps a spot in an obvious place, a bit of extra weight around the tummy or whatever else. The world around us encourages us to live up to the supermodels and pop stars.

The Bible presents a different image though. In Genesis 1:27 we are told that we are each made in the image of God. The Psalmist thinking about this says:

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (Psalm 139:15-16)

God created us each individually. He knew what we would look like and he was pleased. God wouldn't like the whole world to look like famous models or actors; He created each of us the way we are and loves it.

So why are we so obsessed? Why do we often not feel this way? When Adam and Eve sinned they instantly became ashamed (Genesis 3:7). Despite being married, they didn't want to share their nakedness with each other due to their shame. Sin created this feeling of shame in them. That continues in each of us to this day.

How can we fight it? Peter tells women how to become beautiful to God:

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves (1 Peter 3:3-5).

Peter tells women not to focus themselves on their outer beauty. What matters to God is inner beauty; trusting him. Whether you are a man or a woman, you should focus not on looking attractive physically (because in God you already are) but on looking attractive inwardly by trusting God.

This, however, is more difficult. You see that is the real reason Adam and Eve felt ashamed; they thought it was that they were ugly outwardly, but they hadn't changed a bit. The true ugliness was within them.

In terms of moral beauty, no one is up to the test:

"There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God". (Romans 3:10-11)

Whilst our bodies are all beautiful to God, our souls are all ugly, even though this sounds really offensive. It's one thing to think we look ugly on the outside, but on the inside? Are we really that bad?

Imagine a man has a wife that is really beautiful. She walks into the room and everyone looks at her. Most of his friends think this man is really lucky. But actually this same woman is cheating on the man. She hardly speaks to him any more but instead has an endless string of one-night stands. Is she beautiful to him then?

It is the same with us: outwardly, in God's eyes we are exactly as we should be. But inwardly we are cheating on him. Rather than seeking after God, we seek after our own selfish ambition and ways to impress others. This is what sin is, cheating on God. And if we're honest, we all do it. We all don't give him the love he deserves. Each of us has sin like a great big spot right in the middle of our faces. What can be done?

Well there was one who stood up to the test of this inner beauty. Outwardly he was nothing. And when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2). Yet inwardly he was as pure as pure can be. His love was beyond that of anyone else and he served God his entire life.

This person was Jesus Christ; He was God in human form. He never sinned or did anything wrong; He was perfect. Jesus offers everyone to swap their record of sin with his. We can have his inner beauty, and he takes our ugliness. On the cross, he took the punishment for those that trusted in him. He looked ugly before God and was rejected by him. If we accept His sacrifice, we in turn can take hold of his beauty so that we appear perfect in God's sight.

Therefore, if we trust in Jesus, we are not only perfect in body (which every human is) we are inwardly perfect.

Of course, that doesn't mean we can do as much sinning as we like. Rather we can enhance our beauty by obeying his Word. Paul prayed for the Colossians that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him (Colossians 1:10). This is a challenge, we have to walk the way he wants, but is also an amazing blessing; we can be pleasing to him! Our inner ugliness can go away and we can please our heavenly Father again.

And on the last day when Jesus returns, his people will be presented to him a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27). And then we will never doubt whether we are perfect in his eyes again.

In summary, physically we are perfect in God's eyes. But inwardly we can only be perfect in Christ. If you trust in him, he will make you beautiful to himself. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14).

I do hope this general answer to your question goes some way to helping you find peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. If you want to know more about what Jesus has done for you please watch the video on the main part of our site: www.lookingforGod.com

In closing, I want to encourage you to get more involved with your local church. It would be good to speak to a Christian leader or another trusted church individual regarding your question. I know they would be delighted to further answer you as well as offer prayer and support as you continue your spiritual journey: www.lookingforgod.com/churchfinder

Please use our Interactive Answer Matrix and feel free to ask another question. Our helpful staff are praying for you and waiting to try and answer to you from the Bible, and will be delighted to tell you more about Jesus Christ the Lord, the Saviour of the world. www.lookingforgod.com/your-questions

Here are some more Bible Verses for your further consideration:

Psalm 139

1 Timothy 2:8-10

Ephesians 5:25-27

*All Scripture references are taken From The New King James Version of the Holy Bible unless stated otherwise

*If anything in this answer affects you directly, then please feel free to call our confidential prayer line in the UK on 0845 4567729, where trained Christian volunteers will take your call and pray both for you and with you. If you are outside of the UK then you may submit your request for prayer on line at www.ucb.co.uk/prayerline